The UK government is handing out £20 million to anyone who can use AI, VR, or wearables to fix the addiction crisis
The UK government has launched a £20 million funding pot to combat the nation’s drug and alcohol addiction crisis, offering innovators big grants to fast-track AI, VR, wearables, and other tech into frontline treatment and recovery services.
The funding, delivered through Innovate UK, is aimed squarely at slashing the annual death toll of around 15,000 from alcohol and drugs, while easing the £47 billion yearly burden on England alone.
Health Minister Dr Zubir Ahmed said the move recognises that ‘addiction ruins lives’ and that new tech must complement the government’s existing push, which includes expanded treatment access and billions already committed to prevention and recovery.
“Embracing new technology will help supplement all the work this government is already doing,” he said. “Finding new ways to combat the scourge of addiction could save thousands of lives and billions of pounds.”
The AHG Catalysing Innovation Awards split the pot into two competitive streams to capture everything from near-market breakthroughs to promising early ideas:
- Late-stage projects, those with proven real-world impact, UK market readiness, and clear progress toward regulatory approval, can win up to £10 million each.
- Earlier-stage innovations get up to £1.5 million to build initial evidence, sharpen business cases, and move toward deployment.
Winners will also receive dedicated guidance from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) to smooth the path through approvals and evidence requirements.
Some of the expected technologies include:
- Wearables that detect overdose risks or relapse triggers in real time;
- AI-powered apps delivering personalised craving management or 24/7 support;
- VR therapies which let users safely confront triggers, rehearse coping skills, or simulate recovery journeys;
- New medicines and digital tools to boost treatment adherence and long-term outcomes.
“Cutting-edge medicines and technologies could save thousands of lives lost to alcohol and drug addiction while improving outcomes for hundreds of thousands more,” said Science Minister Lord Vallance.
“This is about using the UK’s scientific excellence to prevent avoidable deaths and support recovery, while helping innovative companies to grow and thrive in the UK at the same time.”
